 Well, I bit the bullet and built a Mac mini media center. As with most things Mac it was very simple after doing some basic research. Based on that research, to create this monster, I used a Mac mini, VIZIO 32 inch TV/Monitor, Apple wireless keyboard, Mighty mouse, Scientific Atlanta digital cable box, EyeTv TV tunner and various cables. Once I had all the componets in hand I hooked it all up in the following way. Mac mini to TV via RGB, cable box via composite video to the TV, sound via 1/8 male to male from the Mac mini to the TV. To hook up the cable TV, screwed in the incoming 75 ohm cable to the splitter and then one out went to the TV and the other to the EyeTv tuner on the mini. The keyboard and mouse are connected via wireless, as you might have guessed. Network connection is provided via Airport Extreme. Originally, I had it connected via Linksys WRT54G, but the set up begged for “N” speed, so I updated the router to an Airport Extreme multi channel router. That did the trick, the network flying now! All this could have been done with many other computers, but there are very few that provide the power of the mini with a near zero noise level. This is very important when you realize this is in a bedroom. Also, there were many other ways to hook all these components up, but I went with the most standard setup I could, given the components that I already had. Future updates, will be to move components to HDMI and a hardwired gigabit ethernet connection. Ripping 100+ DVDs stored on some sort of central storage to be shared across the network. Possibly via the USB port on the Airport Extreme? This was a truly enjoyable project that just allows the enjoyment to keep going and going.
Scientific Atlanta digital cable box
Two three feet sections of 75 ohm cable
Note: Links are for illustration only and do not reflect where the components came from.
written by Blake
Do you ever need minimal quick system info for a Mac? Maybe it is available on the login screen. Yep, the login screen. Just click below OSX on the login screen and you will scroll though many key pieces of information. The following shows all available information besides the one that had my serial number.
  
  
written by Blake
WOW, where has this been? I have needed something like this for quiet sometime!
 iQuickText This is a handy tool that will allow you to do something that you would have expected to be built into the iPhone. This is especially handy when you do not have time to compose a message in SMS. This allows you with just a few clicks to send a stored SMS message to anyone in your address book. You can also save new messages, you are not limited to the messages that come with iQuickText. Another great tool from MerckTech. Get your copy here.
written by Blake
This function has been much improved! If you are using dual monitors you now get two pictures, one for each screen. Each picture also has a unique name. This is very helpful if you go to move all your captures into one folder. This is a really useful update.
The only thing that I could not find is how to save the captures to a specific folder, so I created an Automator task to handle that. Below is the flow for that workflow.
 Application to move screen captures. written by Blake
Well, with the 3GS now in the wild, I must say that it seems to me that the first generation iPhone is getting a bit long in the tooth. I am still using mine but will upgrade to a 3GS soon. I skipped the 3G because I wanted a storage upgrade and it just was not there for the 3G as my first generation is a 16 gig model.
I feel certain that 3.0 will be the last major upgrade for the first generation iPhone. It is just beginning to feel so far behind. The first generation does not have the hardware to carry a new feature like voice commands among other things. It is also three generations back on connection speed, well at least it will be, when AT&T rolls out the upgraded 3G network over the next year.
So I think it will be time to retire my first generation iPhone to jailbreak duty. That is my plan, as soon as the new 3GS is in hand. I am going to jailbreak and have it laying around for quickie searches and maybe even a call or two via Skype.
I am glad that I skipped the 3G, but boy, I sure am ready for this 3GS!
written by Blake
Not quite yet, but maybe soon. With all the rumors swrilling these days about Apple-Twitter, Apple-EA, etc, it is hard to keep up! The rumor mill is churning, ferociously, on many fronts, which usually means there is some truth in there somewhere, but we are not looking at exactly what that is, at the moment.
What I am looking at is the idea that Apple could become a gaming empire apart from whether or not they buy EA. There are two paths one could take down this path, buy a company, or build relationships with current game developers. Both have their risks and rewards. I would submit that Apple has been building their gaming portfolio one small iPhone application at the time. Well done games for the iPhone are very appealing. I have been surprised how compelling some of the best games on the iPhone are. I didn’t think you could create a real interactive feel for complex games in such a compact environment. Boy, was I wrong.
Games on the iPhone produce a great gaming experience. The graphics, response, inputs, and sound, with head phones, are all great! I know, sound is awful on the iPhone. I don’t know what you can do with speakers on such a small device, but maybe someday they will solve this issue, but I digress. Myself and others, really enjoy playing games via the iPhone and iPod Touch.
Now on the building front. There has been hiring going on at One Infinite Loop that leads the keen eye to see a heavier focus being put on gaming. They just hired, Richard Teversham, the senior director of business, insights and strategy for Xbox’s European division. There have also been several jobs postings of late that were gaming related. Could be nothing, but it could be the silent building of an empire.
Look, I know that there is no guarantee of success here, remember the Pippin? I do. Well, I also remember the first Apple PDA, the Newton, at the time, it was not a roaring success, but it laid the groundwork for what we now have, the iPhone. So, lets not read too much into a failure at a company that over time has had great success in so many things!
Game on!!!
written by Blake
I have been working on a simple iPhone application, NixCookies (iTunes), in my spare time. Once I had it to a level where it was good enough to be put in public I started thinking about getting it out on the App Store, but from the war stories that I was hearing and reading about, I was afraid it would be a hassle. All in all, it turned out to be a no frills experience.
First, I had to download and configure the deployment certificate for Xcode. This was the same process that you would use to setup on device testing. As long as you follow the Apple provided docs, you will not have any problems, but you must really read and follow them, or you can get off track and have to start over. I did this on the certificate configuration for downloading and testing on my iPhone. Continue reading »
written by Blake
\\ tags: app store, apple, iPhone, iTouch, NixCookies
Release 0.9 of NixCookies has been released on the app store. It is a port of the old UNIX/Linux command line cookie program. It is a free download and comes with three cookie packs, Fortunes, Perl, and Computer. I plan on adding more in future releases. Check it out here on the app store.
written by Blake
\\ tags: app store, appl, appstore, iPhone, Software
Oh boy, I can hear the critics now, how could Apple make a profit on a luxury item in this financial climate? There has to be something going on here. Well from my point of view, it could not be simpler. Here’s how it goes.
A whole new group of people are finding out the benefits of a well designed computer and what you can get done with one. This financial performance has been brought on by a whole new group of people, iPhone users. The vast majority of the folks that I know, that have bought iPhones and then decided to try a Mac did so because they found so much utility in the iPhone. Come on, let’s be honest, there is no other device in this form factor that offers a tenth of the utility that the iPhone does.
Once these folks have jumped in to the proverbial Mac pool it is a whole new world for them. There are so many cool, efficient, and effective ways to manage your digital life and data in general. After moving to a Mac, people just wonder why they have been wandering in the technology desert for so long.
Coming from the PC world where those machines come loaded with a hodgepodge of various products from third party vendors, that often don’t work well together, the integration machine and software just fells good and people can be productive. I have used a lot of different platforms, and to this point have not found one that has been a better experience than my MacBook. I have to work on a PC all day and after having a Mac for just a short while, I started thinking, if I just had my Mac here at work, I could really get some work done and I am not just talking about docs and e-mail. My primary job is technical, so I am likely to need to go to the command line in a moments notice. With the Mac, I can.
The Mac is not perfect, what machine is? Comparing the options on the market today dollar for dollar, the Mac is at the top of the list, in my humble opinion.
written by Blake
We all know that Steve Jobs is a strong force at Apple, but some reports have him in the role of Apple Puppet Master when he is suppose to be on medical leave? What do you think, is he currently the Apple Puppet Master? If so, is that a good or bad thing?
Personally I hope Apple is getting along without him. No matter what the current situation is, one day Apple will be without Steve.
written by Blake
\\ tags: steve jobbs
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Well, I bit the bullet and built a Mac mini media center. As with most things Mac it was very simple after doing some basic research. Based on that research, to create this monster, I used a Mac mini, VIZIO 32 inch TV/Monitor, Apple wireless keyboard, Mighty mouse, Scientific Atlanta digital cable box, EyeTv TV tunner and various cables.
